Preventing House Mold and Water Damage
House mold and water damage can lead to some very expensive repairs if proactive steps are not taken in advance. Texas homeowners should take comfort in the assurance that their home is protected by a excellent Texas Homeowners policy, but misinterpreting the policy coverage for maintenance repair provisions can lead to unwanted and very uncomfortable costs down the line.
Premium costs can actually be lowered when proper inspection of the home and servicing is coordinated and documented properly according to the standards of your home insurance carrier. If you can demonstrate that you are doing everything you can to prevent water damage and house mold, you can earn a better rating on your home insurance policy and pay less for your coverage. This requires the guidance of a home insurance agent who can inform you of all the necessary details required to perform these inspections and document your activities correctly.
Establishing a routine schedule will allow you to check many of the problem spots where damage from water and house mold most commonly occurs. Texas Auto Home Insurance can show you how to do this to the satisfaction of your insurance carrier without having to sacrifice huge blocks of time in the process.
Many of the appliances in your home can become trouble spots if not checked routinely. Water heaters, air conditioners, drain lines, pans, garbage disposals, and all appliance hoses can fail and cause water damage if not properly maintained. Slow leaks around gaskets and the floor under these appliances are favored places for house mold to gain a foothold in your home without you even realizing it is there. Checking these appliances for cracks and clogged lines is a preventative step you should take to minimize the chances of catastrophic equipment failure and major water damage to your floor. Checking underneath these appliances as well is something you should always do to monitor the possible presence of house mold.
Be sure to check your grout and caulking on a regular basis as well. Old grout and caulking will crack and deteriorate, causing slow water damage to sheetrock and wood. Over time, materials in your home will begin to rot. When you have to replace sheetrock or an entire wooden floor or wall, your homeowner’s policy may not cover the cost of the repair if the claims adjuster determines that the damage was not sudden and accidental.
Water damage also occurs when severe storms force rain water through windows, doors, exterior wall holes for pipes, phone lines, and exhaust ducts. If caulking around these areas is old and cracked, water will get into your house and damages its structures. It will also create a breeding ground for mold. Often after a storm a person gets too busy with other things to even check for this type of damage, and does not notice until mold or spots of rotting wood appear that severe damage has been done.
This can easily be prevented by spending 20 minutes or so every weekend to inspect the caulking around these structures to make certain there are no cracks or gaps in the sealant. If you find that your caulking is deteriorating, remove it immediately and apply fresh caulk. Hardware stores now have caulking that is as easy to apply as a piece of scotch tape, and for the small amount of time it takes to do this, the savings on your home insurance premiums and the buffer against the losses resulting from a denied claim is well worth an hour or less out of your Saturday morning.
Texas Auto Home Insurance is a statewide multi-line property and casualty insurance source that reaches out to every major city, mid-sized community, and small town in Texas. We have excellent rates on all lines of insurance, including motorcycle, boat/ATV, commercial vehicle insurance, commercial property and general liability insurance for businesses and contractors, car insurance, mobile home insurance, renters insurance, and homeowner insurance. Click here to see if you qualify for any possible homeowner insurance discounts in Houston, TX, Austin, Texas, Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, Texas, San Antonio, TX, Saginaw, Texas, Socorro, Tx, Orange, TX, Mission, Texas, Mansfield, TX, Levelland, Tx, Lake Dallas, Texas, La Homa, TX, Midlothian, Tx, Nederland, Texas, Paris, Texas, Pollok, Texas, and Maud-Elliot Creek, Texas.
You can also call 1-866-663-5262 toll free and speak with an agent familiar with your specific city or region of Texas. He or she can answer any questions you may have about your current insurance policy, or special coverage options you may need for your personal vehicle, home, or commercial coverage.
